The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1887-04-23
HUMORs OF THE NEW LAW.

HUMUhS VI LID INV law
The Springfield, Mass, Republican
alludes to what it terms railroad folly
az follows:-"The western railroads
seem to be conducting themselves with
great folly toward the national COM
mission. They have advanced the rate
on through freight so per cent..with an
alternative arrangement designed to
meet competition by the Canadian
Pacific, on the ground that the former
is the lowest rate which is compatible
with the law. Now, as the law fixes
no rate, and simply requires that rates
shall be reasonable, uniform and no
higher for less than a greater distance,
it is difficult to see how a straight adj
vance of so per cent. is going to help
matters. The railroad managers have
also raised the rate of mileage tickets
from 800 to $35 per 1000 miles, for
which the law furnishes excuse. Judge
Cooley says the western roads 'have
made a serious mistake and this is
very evident, both from the facts and
from contrast with the action OF eastern
managers, who have not announced
any such advance of rates"
As Mr.. Lincoln used to say, "That re
minds u.s." Until quite recently the Mis-,
souri, Pacific gave a passenger rate on
Sundays to or frem Kansas City and
| Lexington of one dollar for the round
trip. A Sunday or two ago a number
! of persons went to the depot to go to
Kansas City at the usual dollar rate,
but they were informed that the rate
was 80 So for the round trip, and that
excursion rates would not any longer
be given. OF course the interstate
commerce bill is to blame for this, too,
though 1t expressly states:-"That
nothing in this act shall apply to !"
the Issuance of mileage, excursion or
Communication passenger tickets" and,
as q matter of fact, the interstate com
mercs bill has as much to do with
railroad business between Lexington
and Kansas City as has a last years
almanac.
The Missouri Paciic's conduct il
this small matter is very much O
a piece with that of the mar who
conducts the lunch stand at the union
depot in Kansas City. One of ou'
citizens, Mr.. E. Winsor, has been there
a great deal lately OF business. II
coming home OF an evening the trail
leaves a little too early for a regular
supper, so he has been in the habit o
going to the lunch counter and taking
some little thing to eat and a cup o
coffee, of which he is very fond. Tit
coffee was especially to his liking. L
Was clear, strong, and the cups wer'
good and big. A few evenings ago n
dropped In at the lunch room, but wa
surprised to find the size of the coffe'
cups reduced about one half, and tn
quality Of the coffee very much deteri
GRATED. Chow is this7 }" he exclaimed
"Why do you reduce the size OF you
coffee cups, and give US an inferio
quality OF coffee7 This does not lool
right. What Is the ma.terT 60,
said the Ganymede behind the CHECKER
fxings and things. ''It's the interstst
commerce bill. 1t makes US do it.
"Well," answered Mr.. Winsor, rathe
warmly, "If that is the case the inter
state commerce bill will make me g
some " here else to get my lunch here
? after"
So it goes. The next thing, sleep
ing berths will be five dollars
night, and the porter's fee one Of th
: dollars of our daddies, and all becaus
| of the interstate commerce bill. Eve
r the "peanuts" will have to come i
: somewhere for a benefit, we shoul
. think. Seriously, the railroad comps
. MES must take the people to be fool
e Their effort is to make them b
8 lieve that the interstate commerce bi
: is q bad thing. The people know be
!. ter. They are not to be bamboozle
by q little sand being thrown in the
eyes.